The internet can’t resist Great Dane mixes—and Newsweek’s most-read gentle-giant stories prove it.
From unlikely pairings and DNA-test curveballs to rescue surprises, these five viral articles show that oversized dogs with unexpected origins keep stealing the spotlight.
Here are the top five stories about Great Dane mixes that stole our readers hearts in 2025:
1. Great Dane and Gray Wolf Have Puppies
This story starts like a rescue update and ends like a jaw-drop. Macie, a lanky, frightened shelter dog in Florida, was pulled from a euthanasia list by rescuer Rebecca Landerman after being labeled too stressed to stay in the shelter. Once safe, her long legs and slim build sparked curiosity about her breed—so Landerman ordered a DNA test.
The results shocked even experienced wolfdog rescuers: Macie came back about half Great Dane and nearly half gray wolf, with a small percentage of German shepherd.
Despite her wild ancestry, she comes across as gentle and anxious rather than intimidating, showing how genetics don’t automatically dictate personality.
2. Great Dane and Corgi Have Puppies
A Reddit user shared a photo of their unusual 7-month-old pup, adopted from an accidental litter from her Great Dane, Clementine, and a Pembroke Welsh corgi. Despite the extreme size gap, the Dane gave birth to nine puppies.
The owner was clear that the litter was a mistake she never intended, using the moment to emphasize ethical breeding and the shelter overpopulation crisis. In other words: yes, the puppies are adorable, but the story also asked readers to think about responsibility.
3. Internet Can’t Cope With Dog’s Tail After ‘DNA Forgot To Turn Off’ Growth
A Mississippi rescue dog’s tail became the main character. His owner, told he was a Great Dane mix, posted photos to Reddit showing a tail nearly the length of his entire body. Commenters playfully joked that he might be “half kangaroo,” and another one said it’s more like a “whip”—but the fascination came from how surreal the proportions looked in everyday settings, like a shower stall or sofa.
4. Owner Thinks Dog Is Great Dane Mix, DNA Test Reveals Truth
A barn manager adopted Patty, the growing puppy of a pregnant stray she’d taken in. Patty shot up fast, and his towering growth convinced the owner he had to be half Great Dane. Even the family’s frequent exposure to a pure Great Dane reinforced that belief.
Then the DNA test landed: Patty was actually a mix of American pit bull terrier, German shepherd, Great Pyrenees, and “supermutt,” with no Great Dane at all.
5. Foster Puppy Taken To Vet Assuming He’s Malnourished—Then Comes Revelation
Laurel Lingenfelter took home a puppy she believed was a severely malnourished bully-breed mix. Almost immediately, the long legs, tail, and gangly frame didn’t match that breed.
Then, a vet confirmed the truth: Brucey wasn’t a small-breed pup starving at 5 months; he was a 12-week-old Great Dane puppy who’d been fed far too little for a giant-breed baby.
What all of these dogs share—besides their Great Dane roots—is that they’re never framed as freak shows. They’re presented as endearing surprises of nature and life, celebrated rather than gawked at.
That’s why their stories go viral: they give readers permission to be amazed and amused while still feeling a tug of care, shifting the reaction from “I can’t believe this exists” to “I’m really glad it does.”